Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE – The first week of virtual schooling for The Island School and the Charlotte County School System is in the books. While it was a little more like herding cats than teaching kids (or more like teaching a herd of cats to walk on their hind legs, as far as the elementary school […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
As children, many of us had “fairy god mothers, secret santas or maybe the tooth fairy. They were special envoys sent to cheer us up or bestow a small gift. When I think about those times in my childhood it brings a remembrance of happiness and comfort. You knew that someone cared about you – […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News, Profiles.
BY OLIVIA CAMERON – Francis ‘Skip’ Branin has dedicated his work to preserving financial stability within the community of Boca Grande. His skillset has allowed him to monitor the funding for island organizations. Before he was ever wintering on Gasparilla Island, Skip grew up in Cranbury, New Jersey, and now spends summers at the “Jersey […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News, Obituaries.
Helen Thrash Fraser passed away at home on March 20, 2020. She was born in 1930 to Dorothy Louise King and Charles Wilson Thrash. Helen had one brother, Charles Wilson Thrash, Jr. – deceased. She suffered with emphysema, COPD, and congestive heart failure. Helen took her Southern twang, grace, wit, beauty and talents with her. […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Editorial, Featured News, News.
BY I am writing this on April Fools’ Day. Yet, none of us are fools during this time. The rise of COVID-19 has given all of us time to think and process. For my spouse Joy and I, we have taken a little time to sort through old pictures and recall great stories from our […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, Letters to the Editor, News.
To the Editor, Gotta love this town. My golf cart was stolen and wrecked – Angelo (one of the sheriff’s deputies) met me last night and helped me get the steering wheel put together, enough to get the cart to the Barnichol this morning. While I was waiting on Gary to come from the back […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE – In a move that surprised many, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 2020-91, the “Safer at Home” Order, on Wednesday, which means that all people in the state of Florida at this time should “limit their movements and personal interactions outside of their home to only those necessary to obtain or […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE – The survey being taken by the Boca Grande Community Planning Association continues on, and so far responses have been numerous. As of Tuesday morning they had received 172 responses from 279 surveys delivered. There is a 94 percent completion rate for those taking the survey, which means they are getting good data […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
BY HILJA BILODEAU – The coronavirus has been reported in all 50 states, even those considered off the beaten path like West Virginia, North Dakota and Vermont. Boca Grande also is considered off the beaten path, isolated from the problems and worries of the mainland. If the coronavirus has proven anything, it’s that no place […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
BY DALY WALKER, MD – As Boca Grande waits to see what the Coronavirus is going to do next, it is eerie, almost apocalyptical. It is frightening. But overall, the Island residents’ response has been heartening. Some shop owners have voluntarily closed their businesses. Organizations have cancelled programs. Churches have suspended worship services. Restaurants help […]